College: Social Sciences and Public Policy
Degree: BA or BS
Specialized Admission: No
Address: 533 Bellamy Building, Tallahassee, FL 32306
Phone: (850) 644-5727
Email: ekuchvalek@fsu.edu
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
The major in Political Science is designed to educate citizens and promote their active interest in public affairs; prepare students for teaching and research in political science; provide a broad background for careers in public administration and other forms of government service and for careers in politics; offer pre-professional curriculum in foreign affairs and international relations; and provide a pre-law curriculum. The Political Science major offers coursework in the general areas of comparative political science, international relations, American government and politics, public policy, and public administration. Students are required to take at least two courses (or 6 credit hours) from each of three of these areas.
Prerequisite Coursework: (6 hours)
POS X041 (3) American Government
POS XXXX or INR XXXX or CPO XXXX (3)
Note: State-wide common prerequisites are always under review. For the most current information and for acceptable alternative courses, visit the “Common Prerequisites Manual.” This is available from the “Student Services” section of http://www.flvc.org .
Requirements for Progression to the Upper-Division Major
To be admitted, students must complete at least 52 hours with a minimum FSU GPA of 2.00 and most of the General Education requirements met, including freshman English composition and mathematics, or an AA degree.
Major Program of Studies at FSU: (30 hours)
30 hours in Political Science with grades of C minus or higher, 21 hours of which must be numbered above 2999. At least 21 hours must be in regular classroom courses; no more than 9 credits may be in any combination of DIS, honors, or internship. A minimum of 15 hours in the major must be completed at FSU.
No student in the Political Science major who has accumulated three (3) or more grades below C minus (D+, D, D minus, F, or U) in political science courses, at Florida State University or elsewhere, will be permitted to continue toward a degree with a major in political science.
Three (3) introductory courses; select from the following:
CPO 2002 (3) Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics
INR 2002 (3) Introduction to International Relations
PAD 3003 (3) Introduction to Public Administration
* POS 1041 (3) Introduction to American Government (required for the major)
PUP 3002 (3) Introduction to Public Policy
Two (2) courses in at least three (3) of the following subfields (six courses total) The three introductory courses may also “count” here.
Comparative Political Science (CPO)
International Relations (INR)
Public Administration (PAD)
American Government and Politics (POS)
Public Policy (PUP)
One (1) research course. This should be completed by the first semester of the junior year.
* POS 3713 (3) Understanding Political Science Research (required)
Additional Political Science courses to bring total hours in the major to 30
Additional credits may include regular classes, DIS, honors credit, or internship.
* POS 1041 and POS 3713 are required courses for this major.
Minor Coursework: (12 hours minimum)
Political Science majors must complete, with a C minus grade or better in each course, a minor in an approved department or interdisciplinary program, meeting the requirements set forth by that department. A minor will normally range from 12-18 hours. Public Administration courses may apply toward the 30 hours required in Political Science but cannot constitute a minor for Political Science majors. Completion of a second major may be substituted for this requirement.
Digital Literacy: (0-3 hours)
CGS 2060 (3), CGS 2100 (3), or BSC 2010L (1) will fulfill the requirement for this major.
Oral Communication Competency: (3 hours)
Students must demonstrate the ability to orally transmit ideas and information clearly. This requirement may be met through with an approved college-level course.
Minimum Program Requirements - Summary
Total Hrs. Required 120
General Education 36*
Major Coursework 30*
Minor Coursework 12
Digital Literacy 1-3
Oral Competency 3
Electives to bring total hours to 120
*NOTE: Some Political Science courses may be applied to both General Education requirements and the major.
Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion. Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors. You may view the map for this major at www.academic-guide.fsu.edu/.
1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. Half of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.
4. Students who plan to earn the B. A. degree must complete a foreign language through the intermediate (2200 or equivalent) level and nine additional hours in the fields of history and humanities.
Salary Information: For more information go to: National Association of Colleges and Employers (www.naceweb.org) or the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm) provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Representative Job Titles Related to this Major: Teacher: Secondary, College(requires advanced degree), Archivist: Political History, Researcher: Public and Private, City Planning Aide, Urban Planner, Analyst: Legislative, Executive, Customs Worker: Agent, Inspector, Staff Assistants: State, Local, or Federal Government, Labor-Relations Specialist, Manager: City, World Trade, Lawyer: (Professional School), Veterans’ Claims Representative, Foreign Service Officer, Journalist, Special Agent (F.B.I., C.I.A.), Campaign Operative, Lobbyist, Activist/organizer, Career counselor, Immigration officer, Law Enforcement, Mediator(requires additional certification), Policy Analyst, Public Affairs Research Analyst.
Representative Employers: Government: Federal, State, or Local, Colleges and Universities, Local School Boards, Corporations, Media (print, electronic), Political Action Committees, Civic & Taxpayers ’ Associations, Chambers of Commerce, Regional Planning Councils, Political Party Headquarters, Political consultants, Political Candidates, Public interest groups (Common Cause, PIRG, etc.).
ACADEMIC MAP (Effective Summer 2024 and after)
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
This map is a term-by-term sample course schedule. The milestones listed to the right of each term are designed to keep you on course to graduate in four years. The Sample Schedule serves as a general guideline to help you build a full schedule each term. The General Education and Elective courses must be selected to satisfy all area and diversity requirements unless your program meets these requirements with major courses. Milestones are courses and special requirements necessary for timely progress to complete a major. Missing milestones will result in one of two types of map registration stops. The first level (Degree Map Off-track) is placed following grade posting if the student has missed a milestone (course and/or GPA) for the first time in the major. If a student is in non-compliance with milestones for two (2) consecutive semesters (excluding summers), a Major Change Required stop is placed on the student's registration.
To complete a major in Political Science, you need 30 hours of coursework with grades of C minus or better, and complete 12 - 18 hours for a minor with grades of C minus or better (Public Administration will not count as a minor for Political Science majors).
No student in the Political Science major who has accumulated three (3) or more grades below "C minus" (D+, D, D minus, F, U) in Political Science courses taken for credit, at Florida State University or elsewhere, will be permitted to continue toward a degree with a major in Political Science.
Mapping Coordinator: COSS Acad Affairs Off. 101 BEL
Email: COSS-Admissions-Mapping@fsu.edu
Sample Schedule and Required Milestones by Term
| Sample Schedule: Term 1 hrs |
| ENC1101 Freshman Composition3 |
| 1st GE Core Mathematics3 |
| GE History3 |
| CGS2060 Computer Applications3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 1 |
| Complete ENC1101 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Overall GPA 2.00 or higher |
| Sample Schedule: Term 2 hrs |
| ENC2135 Research, Genre, and Context 3 |
| 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics3 |
| GE Natural Science3 |
| GE Core Social Science3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 2 |
| Complete ENC2135 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 1st GE Mathematics course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Overall GPA 2.00 or higher |
| Sample Schedule: Term 3 hrs |
| POS1041 Introduction to American Government 3 |
| Oral Communication Competency3 |
| GE Core Humanities/Cultural Practice3 |
| GE Ethics3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 3 |
| Complete POS1041 or one (1) Intro. Political Science course (INRXXXX, CPOXXXX, POSXXXX) ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Overall GPA 2.00 or higher |
| Sample Schedule: Term 4 hrs |
| Introductory Political Science course3 |
| GE Humanities/Cultural Practice3 |
| GE Social Science3 |
| GE Core Natural Science with Lab4 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 4 |
| Complete 2 Intro. Political Science courses (one must be POS1041) ( ≥ C minus in each) |
| Complete General Education Requirements |
| Complete Diversity Requirement (strongly recommended) |
| Identify Minor at bit.ly/COSSminors |
| Overall GPA 2.00 or higher |
| Sample Schedule: Term 5 hrs |
| Introductory Political Science course3 |
| POS3713 Understanding Political Science Research 3 |
| Minor course3 |
| Minor course3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 5 |
| Complete POS3713 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 3 Intro. Political Science courses ( ≥ C minus in each) |
| Civic Literacy requirement |
| Overall GPA 2.00 or higher |
| Sample Schedule: Term 6 hrs |
| Political Science course3 |
| Political Science 3000/4000 level course3 |
| Minor course3 |
| Minor course3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 6 |
| Complete Two 3000/4000 level Political Science Courses ( ≥ C minus in each) |
| Overall GPA 2.00 or higher |
| Sample Schedule: Term 7 hrs |
| Political Science 3000/4000 level course3 |
| Political Science 3000/4000 level course3 |
| Minor course3 |
| Minor course3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 7 |
| Overall GPA 2.00 or higher |
| Sample Schedule: Term 8 hrs |
| Political Science 3000/4000 level course3 |
| Political Science 3000/4000 level course3 |
| Elective3 |
| Elective3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 8 |
| Apply for graduation in 1st two weeks of semester |
| Oral Communication/Speech and Digital Literacy requirements must be completed |
| Overall GPA 2.00 or higher |